Life saving mum supports first aid plans

Mandy Neale, of High Street, celebrating her daughter Georgie's 21st birthday in New York. The pair are backing a health campaign after Mandy saved her daughter from choking at home nearly two decades ago.

Kate Mason

A Doncaster mum who saved her child from choking is backing a campaign to give parents life saving skills if they find themselves in the same situation.

A new animation from St John Ambulance – featuring characters voiced by David Walliams, David Mitchell, Johnny Vegas and Sir John Hurt – demonstrates how to save a choking baby

The campaign was launched after St John Ambulance revealed more 81 per cent of South Yorkshire parents do not know how to save a baby from choking, despite nearly half having witnessed such an incident.

The Chokeables campaign is supported by Mandy Neale, of High Street, who knows she would not be celebrating her daughter Georgie’s 21st birthday in New York this month had she not taken prompt action when she found her choking on a coin nearly two decades ago.

“I can still remember vividly entering the room and seeing her choking. She was changing colour.

“I just went into automatic. I hit her back three or four times and the coin shot across the room.

“Hand on heart she would not have been here now if I hadn’t been on a first aid course - I would have panicked, but I just knew what to do.

“For two nights afterwards I cried in bed, in shock about what could have happened.

“I would definitely encourage others, especially parents, to undertake a first aid course, as it could save their child’s life.”

Georgie now works for her Mum, who runs pole-dancing classes in Doncaser.